Train control system for toy electric railways



@ik @im ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1,` 1935 l TnAi'ooNTRoL SYSTEM Foa ToY u ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

n "vFrederick`W. `"Hehre,`.llrlingson,' N. `J.`, assigner to Leon W. Rosenthal, New York, N. Y. Y

y v' Application May "2s, `1929, A serial; n1366590 s claims. onus-31) -This inventionrelates to train control systems for toy electric railways having a spur, crossover, l

loop or other form of track shunt employing one or more track switches. 1 5J An object of this invention is to provide means operative to prevent the derailmentof a trainby` atrack switch when the latter fis, prohibitive, l V that is when it will not` permit the wheels of the trainy `to continue uninterruptedly` rthereover;

--`preferably by means operatively synchronized.,

with the track switch to deprive the train of propelling current ,at a place adjacent toor vremote from said `track switchto cause the train totendto come to .a4 stop before-reaching said switch; said deprivation of current being carried out `preferably byf electrically.disconnecting l or deenergizing an insulated track section latsuch place. Combined withthese` means tending to prevent derailment, my invention mayfalso pro- `zovide means, also preferably `synchronized with` the -track switch,y to supply the -trainiwith pro--` pelling current throughout 'the insulated, trackA section to continue thermovement of. thewtrain oven saidtrack switch, whether along, the ,main4 track in one direction, or the otheror` intolthe-l shunt therefrom orinto the mainA track from the l shunt,` when the track` switch is permissive, that isyvhen it will permit the wheels` of the `train to continueuninterruptedly thereoverlg y ,v

;; Other objects `oftheinvention will appear-as the description proceeds. l l l Y The accompanyingdrawin plication of myinvention inwhich, L

The figure is. a circuit and schematic diagram `11disclosing the preferred" embodiment in application toa crossover whereinth'e train `is,V caused to come to a vstop at apoint remote `from the,

prohibitive switch.

Referring` particularly to thefgure, there is 401'* Shown tw'o main track` sections` MT-`1, andy `MT--2y respectively. A crossover CO joins these main tracksections, andv at the points wherevthe `crossover merges with themain tracks, the in-` l dependently operable trackwswitches-.TS--l and IP'IfS-e`2 are positioned. Each switch is associated with van independent-train control mechanisml TC,-'1 and TC-2 respectively.; Themain tracks have rails 1, 1 and, a, center rail2 having `insulated sections 4 and 42, each.separatelyconnected er disconnected through their. associated` train energized or deenergized through the above menl ";tioned train control mechanisms.

illu-strates an ap` i `1\`/IT1-sand,52 in Mrz. when the track switches l The control mechanisms TC-l and s 'TC-2 each `comprise a-reciprocatingrod 10 operatively connected to the movable rail points of a `trackswitch in the well known manner,` and each carries a `bridge member 20"of an electrical #i switch. L This bridge member Vconfiprises an linsulatedl bar having roller contacts mounted y thereon, `which contacts are connected to the positive side 103 of a power line. The bridge assembly is transversely mounted on a reciprocat- 10 ingrod 10. One contact `rollerof each bridge member 20 is arranged to engage the contacts 5 and 6 which `are individually connected by wires 101 and102 to insulated rail sections 3 and v4,fand in the case oflthe otherswitch' TC-2, to Lf` sections 32 and42. vided with an insulatedtrack section 51, andthe Main track MT-l is pro other main track MT-2 isprovided with the` correspondinglsection 52. lThe train controller TC-lhas contacts 12 and12"lwhich engage`120, the remaining contact roller of the bridge meniv ber'ZO, andlikewise the train-controller 'I`C---2. Contact 1220i TC--l isconnected by a common ,Wire 53 to insulated track section 51 and to con# Instead of deenergizing an insulated track sec-V tionfadjacent Aa track switch, VI may so inter-f j connect my train` control mechanisms as to de-` energize an insulatedtrack section remote from saidtrack switch, asishown. vIt should be made clear here that in some toy electric railways the track shunts may be quite short, and it may not avail `to stop a train onan insulated `track sec- 35;; tion of the shunt by` deenergizing `said section," becauselthe coasting distance of 1the train may belongerthan the insulated track section of the shunt. f Of course,'if the train `is traveling at slow speed then the train ,may` come to a stop on the insulated section before striking the prohibitive track switch. l

` But, `by the use of my system, I canassure that said train shall come to a stop, without the in` traduction of mechanical means, by providing aninsulated trackfsection in the main track oppositethat having the prohibitive track switch. Since'` in toy electric railways the `main track is` usually quite extensive, as large a section thereof l may be deenergized as is necessary to 50,53*`

assure'that the train, travelingat its greatest speed, will come to a stop thereon. Thus I provide'aninsulated tracksection 51 in main track*v arepositioned as shown, section 51 is deener-v 51 or 52 4- is. electrically deenergized when thetrack switches are in opposite positions, the one energized'being that with respect to which ythe track switch is permissive for the train to con-- tinue along the main track. In said ligure, track switch TS2 being permissive with respect rto a train coming from the right of M-IZfor it to continue along said track, past` said-.track switch, section 52 is energized, as is also, of course, 42, but said track switch TS2 being prohibitive to the crossover, section 51 is deenergized; and vice versa when the position of Ythe track switches are reversed.

In conjunctionwith' said train control syste-m,

Imay employ ak stationary lsignal light system which will indicate to an approaching train the positions of the track switches. Thus I connect lamps 82 and 8'3'in parallel with the circuits of y sections `4 and-3 respectively, each lamp being adapted to light when the associated sectionv is electrically connected. Preferably, the lamps are-mounted near Athe switch in a signal box hav,-

l. ing the-conformation of a live-sided right prism divided into two vertical compartments 84 and 8,53 by a` horizontal partition.` Lamp 82'is mountedyin the upper compartment and lamp 83 in the lower compartment. yllach compartment isl provided. with 'three windows or lenses of predetermined. color `and are so placed that one window in each compartment faces an ap` proaching train von .the spur or,y crossover, one-v vwindow` in each compartment facesa ,train ony the-,main track approaching fromthe left, and one window in each compartment faces a'train on` themain track approachingv from the right;:` in other words, aset of two windows, one above the-1. other, faces each approaching train; one window of each set of superposed windows` or lensesbeing lit and visible from the appropriate direction. As explained, Seither lamp82l or 83;

is lighted,'rbecause either section 4 or 3 is electrically connected, and thus either the top compartment or lower compartment will be illumi- The topi compartment isprovi'ded` with a red lens or window 'facing a trainr approaching om the crossover; a green window; 91 lfacing a trai-non the`A main track-approaching from ther lett', and a green. window 92 facing a train on.

the main: track approaching. from the right.

Thus; when the-'trackl switch TS1 isA prohibitive' toI a1 shunt train, section 4 is electrically, connected, and the upper: compartment will be i1:-

lumina-ted to disclose to a train on the crossover approaching the track switch, by a red signaL that saidI trackv switchV is so prohibitive, and to tra-ins on MT1 coming; from the right or left that it is safe to.l continue past the track switch by; a green signal; On the other hand when the switch is permissive with respect to the shunt, section 3'. of CO is electrically connected and4` disconnected, and the lower compartment is Villuminated and the lupper extinguished.

,"Ifhelsaidlower compartment isy provided with y a. yellow lens or window 93' facing a trainon the crossover approachingy the track switchlTSl, a redfgwindow9'4 facing av train on the main track .coming fromi the right and a yellow vwindow 95 facing a train on the main track coming from the left. Thus when the lower compartment is illuminated, there is indicated, by a yellow signal, to a train on the crossover approaching the track switch TS1 to proceed with caution. The red lens 94, visible to a train on MT1 approaching from the right, is a signal to said train that the track. switch TS1 is prohibitive to it and then the yellow lens 95, visible to a train on MT1 approaching from the left, indicates that the train should proceed with cautionover section 51. If desired, additional signal lights electrically ,connected-'in series or parallel to 82 and 83 might be placed at some remote place, vas for instance at a signa-l tower, to` indicate at that place the positionof the switch.

It is obvious that a similar signal system might be-- employed for asimilar purpose in conjunction with thetrain control TG2 operated by or With track switch TS2.

It is obvious also that therod 10 of the train control mechanism of any of the .embodiments may bey operated' manually, or electromagnetically from a switch towenor in any other suitable way, and that rotatable signals, semaphores, gates or other ldevices may be directly or indirectly operated synchronously with the track switches tosimulate standard.' railroad. practice.

I-I'avin'g.` described my invention, what I claim 'isz Y- l. In a toy electric railway, two main-v track sections, a shunt track. connecting the same, track switches vat-the,junctures of said' shunt track and main track sections, `and means opera tive when said switches are inlopposite operative positions tone-energize an insulated'section in front 'of the switch which i's'permissive for a train toienter 'the shunt track.

2. In a toy--electric railway, two main track. sections, a` shuntV `track connecting the same, track switches Aat the; junctures of said shunt trackand main track sections, and means opera* tivefwheny the switches are in opposite operative :positionsto de-energize an insulated sectioninv front of the 'switch which is permissive 'for-aI train tol enter the shunt`track, as well; as tofdeenergize anl insulated` section in said shunt track.

3. In a toy electric railway, twomain track sections, a shunt track.4 connecting the same, track` switches at the junctures ofv saida shunt track and main track sections, and means opera- 'tive with one of said switches to dts-energize"-anl insulated section in the opposite maintrack adjacent the other switchof the shunt track.

4; In a. toy electric railway, two main track` sections, a shunt track connecting the same,` track switches at the'junctures ofV said shunt track. and main track. sections,'fmeans operative with one switch to control an insulated section manually controlled' track switchesat' the junc-` tures. of said shunt track' and: mainA track sections, means'operative with. one of said switches:VV to control an insulated section between the' FREDERICKQW. 

